So when I was driving home and heard Mr. Allen interviewed on Fresh Air I had to listen. At first because it was Arthur Allen. Then because of the story. The segment was called

How Scientists Created A Typhus Vaccine In A ‘Fantastic Laboratory’: Arthur Allen’s new book The Fantastic Laboratory of Dr. Weigl describes how a WWII scientist in Poland smuggled the typhus vaccine to Jews — while his team made a weakened version for the Nazis.

I’ve got the book on order and I hope to read it on an upcoming trip (I rarely get the time to read entire books, but this is one I’m making time for). I hope to come back with a review. In the meantime, the Wall Street Journal has a review up:

5 Responses to “Arthur Allen: The Fantastic Laboratory of Dr. Weigl: How Two Brave Scientists Battled Typhus and Sabotaged the Nazis”

Hey, I have a connection! I received two doses of typhus vaccine before our family moved to Venezuela. During a bit over three month period I also received two smallpox, a typhoid, a yellow fever, a diphtheria/tetanus and a polio vaccine.

I’m not Arthur Allen, but let’s see if I can come up with an answer (if not necessarily the answer).

I assume you are referring to Ludwik Fleck, whose laboratory was set up separate from the Wiegl laboratory before the war and who later worked in labs in Buchenwald and Auschwitz. So, during the war there were two laboratories going on. But both trace back to the original Weigl laboratory (Fleck having trained with Weigl and later worked for Weigl in his lab). Since the story goes back to WWI (at least) and the Weigl laboratory and discusses the history of his work (including teaching Fleck) up to and through the war, it is appropriate to discuss this as the Wiegl laboratory and the two scientists (Weigl and Fleck) who led teams during the war.

Rate this:

A few years ago a fake supplement was marketed to autism parents for use on their children. The “supplement” was called “OSR #1”, OSR for “oxidative stress releif” or something to that effect. The name was a bit of a dodge, just as packaging it as a supplement rather than a drug was a dodge. […]

Rate this:

Mr. Shatner, I see that you have been involved in a rather large tweet storm this weekend, focusing on your support for Autism Speaks. My guess is you would agree that 140 characters at a time is far too limiting to take on a complex discussion. Open letters such as this are as well, but […]

Rate this:

What do these autism organizations have in common: Autism Science Foundation Autistic Self Advocacy Network Autism Society of America National Autistic Society Autistica The Marcus Autism Center The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism I could list many more. Besides being autism organizations, they all have this in common: no mention of “Light It Up Blue” […]

Rate this:

Simple answer: because she’s anti vaccine. But I’m sure readers would like a bit more detail than that. Today Robert Kennedy Jr. spoke at an event for vaccine antagonistic activists. On the list of speakers: Sherrie Saunders. Ms. Saunders has been part of Andrew Wakefield’s “Vaxxed” team for some time. Here are some posts from […]